The ink is still drying but there is no doubt that Cheeky Little Minx is the fastest trotter in the history of Atlantic Canadian harness racing after her Saturday evening (July 24) victory at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
Gilles Barrieau pointed the nine-year-old daughter of Lucky Chucky to the lead and was unchallenged at every call as she won in 1:56.2 in the $4,800 first leg of the Island Oceans Trot Series, presented by JD Marine and Diving Inc. The win lowered the track and Atlantic record of 1:56.3 co-held by Freddie and Mile Hill Willie. Barrieau trains Cheeky Little Minx for owners Wayne MacRae of Fall River, N.S. and Howmac Farms Ltd., of North Wiltshire.
Barrieau’s first win of Harness The Hope night was a milestone moment for the New Brunswick driver as Lous Magic Man broke his maiden in 1:59.2 and put the driver over $10 million in purse earnings.
Rock Lights won the $3,400 Preferred 1 Pace in 1:54.1 for driver Jason Hughes and trainer Chris MacKay over Avatar J and third-place Mc Pat.
The evening’s co-featured pace in Race 14, a $3,050 Preferred 2 Pace, had Day Delight going all the way in 1:54.3 with Brodie MacPhee at the lines of the Tom Weatherbie trainee over Cowboy Logic and Soccer Hanover.
David Dowling had a driving triple on the night as he scored with Shadow Of A Daut (1:56.4), Initial Concept (1:57.2) and Here Comes Emmett (1:58.1).
Driver Adam Merner and trainer Melissa Rennie clicked for a pair of victories winning with Disneyman in 1:55.1 and in a dead-heat with Betterthanbutter (1:57.4).
Total handle on the card was $66,699.
Live racing continues Sunday afternoon (July 25) at Red Shores Summerside featuring the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacers and two and three-year-old trotters kicking off at 1 p.m. (ADT).
(Red Shores)
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.